Coin-controlled strength-tester



(No Model.) 2 sneethsne t 1.

G. SOEDING.

COIN CONTROLLED STRENGTH TESTER. No. 399,942. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

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' By 1;- Attorney N PEFERS. Phulo-Lrlhognpher, Washinglon, D4 c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

G. SOEDING.

COIN CONTROLLED STRENGTH TESTER. v No. 399,942. Patented Mar. 19,1889.

5 Wm. EM.

N. PETERS, Phowumc m hu. Walhingium I) t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV SOEDING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

" COIN-CONTROLLED STRENGTH-TESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,942, dated March19, 1889. Application filed October 15, 1888. $erial No. 288,150. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV SOEDING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCOlIl-COH- trolled Strengtlr'lesters; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus designated asstrength-testers, or dynamometers, and has for itsobject the provisionof a construction whereby a single machine will serve to register theamount of pounds pressure persons can exert by hand, either in pulling,pushing, or gripping, each of these ends being attained independently ofeach other and without in any way changing the arrangement of itsmechanism to accommodate it to either of the aboveenumerated functions,the operation of the machine being dependent upon the dropping of a coinof a certain predetermined denomination into a suitable receptacletherefor provided.

As heretofore constructed, machines of this class have been all providedwith circular scales or dials with hands or pointers operating inconjunction therewith for registering the strength of muscular powerexerted by the operator on the handles thereof. My in vention provides aregistering device in the form of an upright tube or pipe with thefigures arranged one above another, instead of in a circle, and thescale being in full viewof the operator, so that he can see how far hehas forced the indicator, and in view of this feature can ascertainaccurately the very utmost of his strength.

In gripping devices as heretofore constructed there have been providedstationary handles or bars with movable handles, &c., arrangedrelatively thereto, the stationary hair dles serving as abrace to restthe palm of the hand against, and the movable one being grasped by thefingers and a pulling action being imposed upon the said handle.lliiyinvention provides two movable handles, one within the other, andbeing actuated each by the other, but moving in opposite directions, sothat if one be drawn outwardly the other will be forced inwardly.Therefore, if both be grasped by the hand, the inner handle by thefingers and the outer by the thumb and palm, a perfect gripping effectwill result.

My invention therefore consists in the combi nation, in astrength-tester or dynamometer, of two movable handles, one within theother and moving in opposite directions, with mechanism of peculiarconstruction for disclosing the amount of muscular power exert-ed in theact of pulling, pushing, and gripping; also, in the peculiar arrangementand combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy invention complete. Fig. 2 is a rear view with door removed, theupper and lower parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a front view, partlybroken away. Fig. 4 is a detail of pulling and pushing racks and pinion.Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the coin-actuated lever,enlarged. Fig. 6 is a detail of modification of registering device.

A is the inclosing-case, in the form of akeg or small barrel, andmounted on a stand, B, which stand is bolted or otherwise secured to thefloor by means of its enlarged or flaring base. As will be noted, thiscase or barrel is formed with a bung-hole opening, a, for the receptionof the lower end of the stand-pipe or indicator-tube O. Opposite thehole a, and cast integral with barrel A, is an elongated boss, a, whichis screwed or otherwisesecured in the base or stand B.

D is the pulling-handle, of stirrup form, and secured on the end of asquare spring-encircled red, (I, this red passing through an opening inthe head of the case A, and terminating at its inner end in :rack cl.This rack d engages with pinion 6, cast with the grooved wheel E, and issupported by the upright E, in which it slides.

Midway between the ends of the rod (Z is a collar, (1 provided with ashoulder, (1 on its upper edge for engagement with the end or head f ofthe locking-bar F. The collar (1 is bolted to the rod (1 and receivesthe impact of one end of the helical spring G, the other end pressingagainst the inner side of the barrelhead a When handle D is drawnoutwardly, or the handle I pressed inwardly, the effect is the rotationof the wheel E and the pinion e.

In the groove of the wheel E runs a cord or belt, h, which passes overidler h, thence over pulley 0, near the top of stand-pipe O, and down tothe indicator H, where it is fastened to an eye on one end of theindicator, the other end of the cord being similarly secured. Thisindicator is in the form of a straight piece of metal with eyes or loopsin each end,

and in the face or front of the metallic piece is screwed or otherwisesecured a finger or pointer, h for registering with the figures on theplate 0' and indicating the amount of pounds pressure exerted on thehandles.

When, as above remarked, the rod d is moved outwardly against resistanceof the helical spring G, the wheel E will rotate, thereby causing thebelt h, with the indicator H, to rise toward the top of the pipe 0, thuscorrectly registering with the figures on the front thereof andimmediately dropping to its normal position, when the pulling action isre leased, owing to the reverse action of the spring G. The wheel E, asshown, is secured on a shaft, 6, which shaft is journaled in bosses e onthe inner sides of the case on screws passing through said case and intothe ends of said shaft. The handle I, which is of U form, passes throughopenings in the head of the case A, bending upwardly and terminating inracks 2', which engage with pinions K on bosses lo.

Branching out from each side of the collar d is an arm, 61, whichextends for a short distance toward the sides of the casing A, thendropping downwardly a short distance and again bendingtoward the rear ofthe appara tus and terminating in racks d which engage with pinions K onthe opposite sides from that of racks 'i, so that, as will be readilyobserved, any movement of handles D will, through pinions K, actuatehandle I in the reverse direction, and vice versa. At the same time theregistering device will be operated by means of the wheel E and thepinion c and the belt h, thus attaining the desired end and aifording aperfect gripping action. This arrangement will also permit theindependent operation of either of the handles D and I, the registeringmechanism operating in either case.

L is the coin-actuated lever, fulcrumed on a pin, Z, in hanger Z. Aswill be observed, this lever is pivoted near its rear end, so that theweight of a single coin imposed upon its opposite end will depress saidend, causing its rear end to rise and carry with it, through the mediumof a connecting-bar, f, the locking-bar F, which locking-bar is pivotedon a pin, f, in a boss or lug, f This raising of the locking-bar willpermit of the pulling out of the handle D for any distance, and when thepulling action ceases said handle with its bar (Z will be forced back bythe spring Gto its normal position. The beveled edge of the head f ofthe lever F permits collar (1 to slide easily to the rear of said headf, thereby automatically locking itself.

As shown in Fig. 5, the end of the lever L which receives the coin isformed with an enlarged flat portion, M, in which is a circular opening,on, of slightly smaller diameter than that of a coin, preferably afive-cent piece, so that a coin, after being dropped into the slot n andpassing through conveyer N, will rest edgewise in this circular openingIt will also be noted that the lower end, it, of the conveyer N extendsthrough the circular opening and for a short distance below the same,thus slightly tilting the coin and holding it so until the lever L hasbegun to drop, and by the time the lever L has completed its downwardmovement the coin will have assumed a flat position on the part M. Thusit will be in position to be easily displaced, which displacement isaccomplished through the medium of a bent wire, d, which is secured tothe rod d and strikes against the pin f in the end of the lever L, thusjarring said lever and causing the coin to fall into the bottom of thecase or barrel A, from whence it can be removed at will by removing theback or door O,which is held in place by lugs or otherwise. This doormay be of any desired form, and need not be further described.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have shown. a modification of theregistering device, in which I have substituted a toothed wheel, P, witha pinion, p, to engage with the rack d on the pulling-bar cl. Thisconstruction can be used in place of the hereinbefore-described cord andpulleys. The perpendicular rack-harp has at its upper end a pointer,71?, for registering purposes. If found desirable, I may place a spiral.spring on each of the arms 2' of handle I, instead of the single springG on the pull-bar d, thus employing a pair of springs instead of onespring, The bar cZ would in that event operate in the same manner and.

as effectually as in the first instance, only that this bar would beindirectly acted upon by the springs.

The hereinbefore-described construction affords a device perfectlyadapted for the purposes for which it is intended, needing no attentionwhatever and being always ready for use, there being no manipulation ofany of its parts necessary previous to such use. IVhen either of thehandles have been re leased, the indicator will immediately drop tozero-point and the bars assume their normal position and automaticallylock themselves and cannot be withdrawn or otherwise operated until acoin is placed in the slot, as described.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

i. In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination of the twomovable handles, one

within the other and moving in opposite directions in a parallel plane,a helical spring resisting the movement of the handles, apair ofgear-Wheels, racks connected With the handles and transmitting theirmotion to the Wheels, a registering device, and intermediate mechanismcontrolling the registering device, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination of the movablehandles, one Within the other, a helical spring resisting the movementof the handles, a registering device consisting of a straight verticalscale and a verticallymoving pointer, the gear-Wheels and mechanismintermediate the gear-Wheels and the register, and racks connected Withthe said handles, whereby the amount of muscular strength exerted onsaid handles is indicated, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination, with the handle Dand the handle I, having the rack t' and the pinion K, of the groovedWheel E and the shaft c, the pinion e on said shaft, the idler h, thepulley c, the cord h, and the indicator H 7L2, all combined foroperation substantially as described.

4. In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination, With thehandle D, having the spring-encircled rod (1, the rack (:Z, the arms (1and the racks d thereon, the handle I, having the racks 1i thereon, thepinions K and e, and the conveyer N, of the bent Wire d, secured in therod (Z, the pin f, the lever L, pivoted on the pin f and the receiver Mon said lever L, whereby the Wire d striking the pin f will jar the coinoff the receiver, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination, with thehandle D, having the spring-encircled rod (1, the racks d, the arms d,and the racks (1 the handle I, having the racks t', and the pinions Kand e, engaged by said racks, of the coin-lever L, provided with thering M, the coin-conveyer N, the said conveyer and ring operating tochange the coin from a perpendicular to a horizontal position on saidring, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a coin-controlled strength-tester, the combination, with the caseA, of the handles D and I, the rod d, the helical spring G on said rod,the collar (1 carrying the forked arms (F, the racks d 1', and d, shaft9 journaled in the bosses e and carrying the pinion e, and the Wheel E,the cord h, the idler h, the pulley c, the indicator H 7L the pipe C,the conveyer N, the lever L, the ring M, the hanger Z, the locking-barF, having the head f, the barf, the Wire 01, the pin f, and the uprightE, all combined and arranged for operation substantially as described.

Signed this 11th day of October, A. D. 1888, at the city ofPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.

' GUSTAV SOEDING.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. LEDGER, R. DALE SPARHAWK.

